Page 4 of The Uncouth Duke of Longford
“I do not think that either of you are aware of my title,” he said, darkly. “You are entirely unaware of who it is you are speaking to with such sharp words and improper manner. If you did know who I was, then I am quite certain you would refrain in an instant.”
“And yet, I do not care who you are or what your status is,” Miss Renfrew replied just as quickly. “Any gentleman can still be a rude gentleman, whether he be a Baron or a Duke.”
The firm way she spoke sent bolstering courage through Rachel, and she nodded fervently, refusing to let herself be cowed by this gentleman's rudeness. Miss Renfrew was quite right. Whether this man be a Duke or a Baron, or even if he was a knight, there was no need for him to speak with such disdain to either of them. What he was asking was entirely improper and would not be tolerated.
“It is not I who act improperly,” came the immediate reply, this time his gaze turning towards Rachel and sending a cold shudder through her. “I hear you saying insulting things about various gentlemen and – ”
“Miss Renfrew is speaking just as she finds, in order to protect me from any improper fellows,” Rachel found herself saying as the gentleman's gaze swung back towards her again. “She is a dear friend and is treating me with great consideration. Simply because you do not like hearing what we have to say about your friends does not mean that you have any right to demand silence from us.”
“Precisely.”
Miss Renfrew beamed at Rachel and then looked back to the gentleman who had, by now, folded his arms over his chest and was looking away, his jaw working furiously. Evidently they had displeased him a great deal, but at this juncture Rachel herself did not care. No doubt she would have been quite terrified of this gentleman had she been alone, but Miss Renfrew's confidence added to her own.
“I do not think we need to linger here any longer, Miss Renfrew.” Her voice was as loud as Miss Renfrew’s had been, turning her head to look at her friend rather than at the angry gentleman before them. She offered her friend her arm and Miss Renfrew immediately looped hers through it. “I do not think that we will find any amiable company here.”
With a giggle, Miss Renfrew turned and walked away with Rachel by her side, though Rachel could not help but glance over her shoulder to where the gentleman still stood looking after them. He was, she noticed, still gazing at them with a hard stare, his face a little red as his arms fell back to his sides. Rachel was quite sure she had displeased him, but she did not care. No gentleman should be permitted to speak to young ladies in such a way, and she herself was glad that the conversation had beenbrought to an end by them rather than by him. That showed him that they were not about to consider his views more important than their own.
“Do you have any notion as to who that gentleman was?”
Miss Renfrew shook her head. “Unfortunately, I do not.”
“He did seem to state that he had a very high title,” Rachel said softly, casting yet another gaze towards the gentleman, though he was no longer looking at them. “Not that such a thing matters, of course, for it is not as though my parents will be eager to introduce me to gentlemen such as he.”
“My father does not care who I am introduced to. All he wishes is for me to make a match so that I will no longer be his responsibility.” Miss Renfrew laughed rather than frowned, as Rachel had expected. “Though I certainly will never accept such a gentleman as that for a husband. Can you imagine what a sort of arrogance must surround him? He must constantly be talking of himself, thinking well of himself, expecting others to do just as he demands. I certainly would never tolerate a husband like that.”
Rachel shivered at the very thought. Such a gentleman would do nothing but ignore his wife, she was sure. “He certainly was a bit of a beast.”
“Abeastlygentleman,” Miss Renfrew laughed. “A very apt description, Miss Grifford.”
“Rachel, please.”
Miss Renfrew smiled. “Then you must call me Grace. After all, I am sure we are to be very dear friends.”
“Yes,” Rachel agreed quickly. “I think we shall be too.”
Chapter Two
Andrew watched the two ladies for as long as he could before they disappeared into the crowd. He had not liked hearing them speak about Lord Henderson and others that he considered his friends. Though what had been said of them – particularly of Lord Henderson – was quite true, he would never admit that to them.
Such gentlemen were those he considered friends, though he did not go out into the ballroom in search of them. Instead, he chose to observe the ball rather than taking part in it. If he were to step out, then he would be surrounded by almost every young lady and her mother, all desperate for him to sign dance cards, eager to smile and tease and fluttered their eyelashes at him. Their attempts would, no doubt, come from a desire to make each of them appear a little more beautiful in his eyes than any other but Andrew had no intention of permittinganyoneinto his sphere. None, save for two or three particular friends whom he had known for many years. After everything that had happened, they were the only ones he trusted. He certainly could not bring any young lady into such a darkness.
Scowling, Andrew looked away, turning himself entirely in the opposite direction from where those two young ladies had walked. They had both been very rude indeed, he considered, for not only speaking such things to him but also for refusing his simple demand – and they had ignored him thereafter and turned to walk away, stating that he was not good company. His scowl grew. They had shown him such great disrespect as to suggest he was arrogant, selfish and had been eavesdropping, which was certainlynotwhat he had been doing. It was not hisfault that he had overheard them whentheyhad chosen to stop so close to him.
“Perhaps they did not notice me,” he muttered aloud, turning around to glance at the wall behind him. aware that he had hidden himself away. But all the same, he considered silently, they ought not to have been speaking in such a manner.
Silently, Andrew wondered why he had come to the ball in the first place. Yes, it was going to be full of debutantes, young ladies who had made their first foray into society, but such young ladies did not interest him. There were his friends, he supposed, which was something he could be grateful for. With a heavy sigh, he shook his head to himself, fully aware of his reason for being in London, though he did not truly want to admit it to himself. The only reason – themainreason – he had come to London was to escape from the heavy clouds which hung over his estate and lingered heavily upon his mind. Clouds which came from the questions which remained unanswered, the whispers which pursued him almost constantly.
His eyes caught on another familiar face and the heavy weight upon his heart lessened just a little. Lord Wrexham had been an impetus for his return, for he had written to Andrew on many occasions, practically demanding that he make his way back to society for the summer season. Given that Lord Wrexham was fully aware of all that troubled Andrew, the picture he had painted of society with its warm, welcoming joviality and laughter had tempted Andrew a great deal. Now that he had arrived, however, now that he was standing here in the ballroom itself seeing nothing but questioning eyes shot in his direction and looks of surprise shared between one person and the next, he began to wonder if coming to London had been a particularly wise idea.
“I have been absent from London for five years,” Andrew reminded himself aloud. “It is to be expected that many will besurprised to see me present again.” Seeing yet another lady look towards him and then turn to murmur to her friend, Andrew shook his head and sighed heavily. Being absent from London society had been both a choice and requirement. There had been so much to do at the estate, so much for him to learn and to take on, that he had not had a moment to think of leaving the manor house. With it had come a great many whispers about what had truly taken place over his father's death; questions which as yet, had still not been answered. His father's death had been unexpected and sudden and the manner of it suggested to Andrew- as well as to others - that it had not been of natural means. Andrew's only relief in all of this was that his mother had not been present at the time and did not know the true circumstances. Andrew had kept it from her and whether he would ever tell her the truth, he was not yet certain. His mother had been greatly distressed over the passing of her husband and it had taken her many years to recover. The last thing he wanted to do was to make her fall back into distress all over again. It was best for her to remain where she was with his sister, her husband and their children. That way, she still had some happiness and he Andrew alone would carry the burden.
“Do you intend to step out of the shadows this evening or are you planning to remain here for the entire duration of the ball?”
Andrew started in surprise, turning his head to see a gentleman grinning at him – a gentleman he had only just been thinking of. “Lord Wrexham.”
“I have been observing you,” his friend told him as Andrew scowled all over again. “Why is it that you insist on hiding here? Why must you hide yourself away rather than join in with other fine company?”
“I am not hiding myself away,” Andrew replied, firmly. “I am merely observing.”
